Shatterhand - Fusing Alternative and Progressive Music

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Filed under Alternative Rock, Audio, Electronic, Hard Rock, Modern Rock, Pop Rock, Rock

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Making alternative and pop rockers happy again by fusing elements of progressive rock, world music and alternative, Shatterhand is the brainchild of James Pink and Neil Mavor.

With thubthumping drums, sweeping guitars reminiscent of a 70s guitar solo, and monotone vocals you would expect from an "alternative" band, Shatterhand doesn't break boundaries. They do succeed, however, in covering the basics of what progressive and alternative music means.

Citing diverse influences like "Jeff Martin, Peter Gabriel, Porcupine Tree, and 80's music," it's hardly surprising that the band sounds like they do.
Shatterhand's self-titled album is composed of 9 songs that are as typical as they come. With the standard slow acoustic guitar intro in Day by Day, the contemplation of existence in the Edge of the World, and the obvious cry for help in Drowning Man. Although I must admit I like the world music elements that the band incorporated, the rest of it is simply too haphazard to accept as a coherent album. It's like asking Dream Theater to perform with Scott Stapp on vocals, complete with rather dry and simplistic lyrics.

To the band's credit, it was a good attempt even if I personally think that it fell short. A little more honing and crafting can go a long way and who knows the band might just get to the right brew they were hoping to create in the first place.

Shatterhand's album is available for free download under a creative commons license. You can get these download links here as well as get updated about the band by visiting the site links below.


Related Links:
Shatterhand's Website
Shatterhand on Facebook

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence.


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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/James-Pink/644568645 James Pink

    Hi Valerie,

    I appreciate your candor !

    I can certainly understand why you felt the album is not as coherent as a typical CD; Neil and I have very different influences. I am the Jeff Martin fan, Neil is more of a Porcupine Tree guy. These songs were written over a period of several years; some are collaborative works between Neil and I, while others were mostly written by one or the other of us.

    We tried with these songs to treat them as individual works, and create an atmosphere for each based on its own merits. Not a typical approach to an album, but we like to think of it more as an album of snapshots that each tell their own story, rather than as a novel with different chapters telling a larger story.

    I must address your comment about our lyrics however; I think as a whole, they are far from "dry" or "simplistic." I don't think you gave us a fair shake there.

    Thanks for taking the time to listen.

    James Pink
    Shatterhand

  • Motnosrettap

    Hi Val;

    Remember nothing tried nothing gain. Looks like you had to struggle in attempt to be nice. Fail.

    I do not know how someone builds on a message like what you gave the band. You make a statement like 'honing and crafting' but you don't tell them where you figured they needed to hone and craft. Easy to say when you don't qualify what it is that you feel they need and where. Your critique falls way short of what you said as it has no clarity and or direction.

  • Motnosrettap

    Hi Val;

    Remember nothing tried nothing gain. Looks like you had to struggle in attempt to be nice. Fail.

    I do not know how someone builds on a message like what you gave the band. You make a statement like 'honing and crafting' but you don't tell them where you figured they needed to hone and craft. Easy to say when you don't qualify what it is that you feel they need and where. Your critique falls way short of what you said as it has no clarity and or direction.

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Posted on February 19, 2010 at 8:00 AM



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